The WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 had its moments, but overall, it felt like a missed opportunity. While the German crowd brought an incredible energy to the arena, the matches themselves didn't quite hit the mark. 'It felt like we were just going through the motions,' Dave Simon observed during the Ringside Report Network’s post-show. 'Nothing outrageous, nothing outstanding… just a lot of predictable outcomes and matches that seemed to drag on too long.'
Even the standout bouts, like Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens and CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, couldn't fully escape criticism. 'There was some good storytelling in Cody and Kevin’s match, but it didn’t feel like it moved the needle,' added Johnny North. The consensus was clear: a decent show, but not one we’ll be talking about months from now.
The WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 has come and gone, and the Ringside Report Network’s post-show provided some candid reactions from Dave Simon and Johnny North. With a fired-up German crowd, we saw title defences, new champions, and some unexpected outcomes. However, not everyone seemed impressed with the event’s flow or impact. Let’s dive into the thoughts of our hosts and the audience’s reactions to each match of the night.
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Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens: The Story Continues at WWE Bash in Berlin 2024
Dave Simon set the tone early, expressing that the main event featuring Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens felt like it had some energy, largely thanks to the German crowd. “The crowd made it feel like a big deal, but the match itself felt like going through the motions,” Simon commented, suggesting that while the bout had its moments, it didn’t quite reach the heights he hoped for. Johnny North agreed, noting, “It felt like it was something we’d seen before. If you’ve seen one Randy match, you know how that would turn out.”
Despite these critiques, both hosts acknowledged that the match’s storytelling stood out, particularly Kevin Owens’ decision not to capitalize on Cody Rhodes’ injured knee, even with multiple opportunities to do so. “He wanted to beat Cody clean,” Simon noted, “but in the end, his honour may have cost him the WWE Championship.”
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Audience members also shared mixed reactions. Ray Cruz mentioned that his night match was Owens vs. Rhodes, though he echoed some of the sentiments of predictability. “It was solid, but nothing we’ll be talking about months from now,” said Rey.
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill in the ring after their win at the WWE Bash in Berlin 2024
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs. The Unholy Union: A Decent Match but Lacking Heat
The Women’s Tag Team Championship saw Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill reclaim their titles from Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. Despite the significance of the title change, the match didn’t seem to captivate everyone. Johnny North found some positives, praising the chemistry improvement between the teams since their last major encounter. “It was the best Belair and Cargill tag match I’ve seen. It had a lot better flow than Clash at the Castle,” he observed.
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However, Dave Simon was less enthusiastic. “The match had no heat, no real animosity. They were making moves, but something was lacking in the intensity department,” Simon critiqued, adding that it felt like a glorified house show rather than a premium event. He gave the event a six out of ten overall, emphasizing that while there were moments of quality wrestling, the show didn’t offer much beyond the surface.
A viewing audience member, Ryan Katz, echoed Simon’s sentiment, pointing out that although it was technically a solid match, it lacked that spark that makes fans invest emotionally. “It had zero heat and no real animosity between the teams,” he noted, which seemed to be a common thread among the feedback.
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CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre: A Mixed Reaction to a Brutal Strap Match
The strap match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre drew much attention, with positive and negative comments flying in. Punk’s victory, his first in WWE in over 11 years, was a significant moment, but the match itself had some questionable elements. “It felt like they tried to tell a compelling story, but the gimmick bogged it down,” Simon reflected. “Too much focus on the bracelet and the rules, and not enough on the wrestling itself”.
Johnny North sided with Punk vs. McIntyre as his match of the night. “I like the story that was told there, more so than in the Cody and Kevin match,” North said, citing Punk reclaiming his family bracelet from McIntyre as a compelling moment. However, Simon countered, “I’m over it; I don’t like all the bracelet stuff. You’re grown men; you’re fighting over beads. It’s stupid”.
Audience members had varying opinions on this match. Doug Hepburn appreciated the drama but agreed with Simon on the overcomplicated rules and the match’s pacing. “It was fun but felt too contrived with all the light-ups and touching of the turnbuckles,” he mentioned.
Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan: A Match That Felt Like Fillerat WWE Bash in Berlin 2024
The mixed tag team match was another one that didn’t quite hit the mark for the hosts. Simon called it “just another match that happened on the show,” while North described it as an “elaborate squash” with little real drama or uncertainty. Despite being a champion, Liv Morgan got almost no meaningful offence against Rhea Ripley. “Morgan had some cool spots, but as a champion, she didn’t look very strong,” North commented, indicating the lopsided nature of the match.
The viewing audience didn’t seem too impressed either. Doug Hepburn said, “It was nice to see Ripley and Priest dominate, but it was five on two with all the interference. It just didn’t feel believable”.
Gunther retained his World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton at WWE Bash in Berlin 2024
Gunther vs. Randy Orton: A Slow Burner That Didn’t Deliver
Gunther’s defence of the World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton was another topic of contention. While it had some good moments, both hosts agreed it was too long, with Simon commenting, “34 minutes was too long; it dragged on and on. I couldn’t believe how long it was going”. North concurred, stating, “It didn’t need to be that long; 24 minutes would have been plenty”.
Doug Hepburn thought the match had merits, particularly the crowd’s enthusiasm for Randy Orton, but acknowledged it “could have been trimmed down by at least ten minutes.” While there were elements to appreciate, the consensus was that the match didn’t reach its potential and felt overly drawn out.
Final Thoughts and Looking Ahead
The general feeling from the post-show was that the WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 was underwhelming. While there were some decent matches and memorable moments, the overall impression was of a show that felt like “going through the motions.” With the next big WWE event on the horizon, there’s hope that they can bounce back and deliver something more engaging.
Don’t miss out on the full replay of the WWE Bash in Berlin 2024 Post Show on YouTube, Rumble, Twitch, or Kick, and listen to our audio podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Join us next week for the AEW All Out Post Show, where we’ll dive into another exciting night of wrestling action!
